ST. MARYS COUNTY, Md. - Walden/Sierra, Inc. today announced they received a $2,500 grant from the Rite Aid Foundation in support of the Compass Halfway House in California, Md.

Compass Halfway House serves women with young children, and pregnant women recovering from substance abuse. The goal of the program is to provide the necessary counseling and other support services, including educational and vocational assistance, to help participants recover and prepare to live independently and drug-free with their children. Additionally, Compass allows the children to remain with their mothers, as opposed to entering the foster care system.

"Compass provides an important service in the continuum of substance abuse treatment available to local residents," said Kathleen OBrien, Ph.D., Executive Director of Walden/Sierra. "This grant will help us provide additional activities for the children living at Compass, as well as necessities such as food for residents."

People in need of help can call the 24-hour hotline at 301-863-6661 (TTY: 301-863-6664). The hotline also provides crisis intervention.

Walden/Sierra is a nonprofit behavioral health agency that has been serving the Southern Maryland community through crisis intervention, counseling services and a continuum of substance abuse treatment since 1973. They have offices located in Leonardtown, Charlotte Hall, California, and Lexington Park. You can read more on their website at http://www.waldensierra.org/ .